Car-axle.



PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

F. M. THOMPSON.

GAR AXLE.

APPLICATION I-ILED JAN.10, 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

INVENTOH Efl/IZ Jffiampaozz WITNESS/58' ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES Patented June 20, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. THOMPSON, OF EAST LIVERPOOL, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I FOURTH TO ELMER S. KELLEY, ONE-EIGHTH TO RICHARD O. FINDLEY AND ONE-EIGHTH TO JOHN T. KELLY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CAR-AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,946, dated June 20, 1905.

Application filed January 10,1905. Serial No. 240,407.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK M. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Liverpool, in the county of Oolumbiana and State of Ohio, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Axles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in caraxles; and it consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an axle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on about line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is adetail plan view of a portion of the axle, showing the securingband. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the fastening-block. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of one of the lubricators; and Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the axle, showing the construction employed for embodying the invention in a new equipment.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1 the axle is divided at Ainto sections B and O, the former being provided with a sleeve D, shrunk upon the section B and secured by a rivet E, or which may be otherwise suitably secured upon the said axle-section B, as will be understood from Fig. 1. At its free end the sleeve D projects beyond the end of the axle-section B and preferably to the wheel 0', carried by the other axle-section C, and forms a socket to receive the axle-section O, as shown in Fig. 1. This axle-section O is provided between its ends with an annular groove F, into which projects the inner end of the fastening- ,block G, which latter fits within an opening D in the sleeve D and extends inwardly beyond the said sleeve D into the groove F in the axle-section O, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. This block D is held in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by the means presently described and operates to prevent any longitudinal displacement of the axle-section O within the sleeve D without in any way interfering with the free revolution of the axle O within the sleeve D, so that the opposite wheels O and B, fast on the axlesections O and B, may turn freely and independently of each other.

The block Or is tapered or made in the form of a keystone, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4E, and the opening D in the sleeve D is correspond ingly tapered, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

For securing the block G in place, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I provide on the outer side of said block an outwardlyprojecting stein Gr, which fits detachably in an opening H in the securing-band H, which band H has its ends it suitably secured, preferably by a series of rivets H (See Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.) The stem G of the block Or, it will be noticed, is comparatively short, and fitting within the opening H in the band H can be released from engagement with the band by a slight opening of the band H when the rivets H are cut away. Thus by cutting away the rivets and spreading the band H slightly at its lower end (see Fig. 2) its upper end will escape from the stem G and can be moved slightly along the sleeve D to permit the removal of the block Gr whenever it is desired to separate the axle-section for any desired purpose. This is an important part of my invention, as it permits the ready removal of the block G by simply releasing the ends of the band and moving the same slightly along the sleeve D, and renders practicable the use of a band in a single piece with a single set offastenings, and the block G, with its stem G, and the band H can be cheaply made and readily applied to position for use and released whenever desired.

In Fig. l I show the axle provided with a gear I, which may be employed when the axle is used on motor-cars. I also show the sleeve D provided with a series of lubricating-cups J, arranged at intervals around the circumference of the said sleeve, as shown in Fig. 2, and preferably disposed longitudinally along the sleeve, as shown in Fig. 1, so that lubricant will be supplied to the axles in the different positions of the sleeve. As best shown in Fig. 5, the lubricator involves a body or cup J, a hinged lid J actuated by a spring J by which it may be held either open or closed, and having a packing lining or strip J to prevent leakage.

It will be understood the construction shown in Fig. 1 is especially designed for use in embodying the invention in old equipments. In Fig. 6 I show the construction employed embodying the invention in a new equipment. In this construction the axle-section K has the sleeve provided with an opening for the fastening block Gr, which enters an annular groove in the opposite axle-section M and is held in the same manner and by the same construction as before described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be understood that in the use of my invention I avoid any dragging or grinding of the wheels and the consequent wear thereon and on the rails on rounding curves by per- I mitting the opposite wheels to turn independently and secure this result by a simple construction which permits the ready connection and disconnection of the opposite axle-sections.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination substantially as herein described, of the opposite axle-sections, one of section, the fastening-block fitting in said opening and projecting into the annular groove of the axle-section and having at its outer side the outwardly-projecting stem, the securing-band having an opening receiving such projecting stem, means for connecting the ends of the securing-band, the stem of the fastening-block fitting detachably in the opening in the securing-band, and a series of lubricators disposed circumferentially and longitudinally along the said sleeve, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a divided axle, with the axle-section having an annular groove, of the opposite axle-section having a sleeve fitting over the grooved portion of the first section, and provided in register with said grooved portion with an opening for the fastening-block, the fastening-block fitting in said opening and projecting into the annular groove of the axle-section and provided at its outer side with an outwardly-projecting stem, and the securing band fitting around the sleeve and over the fastening-block, and having an opening in which the stem of the fastening-block is detachably fitted, whereby the band may be spread slightly to disengage it from the stern of the fastening-block and then shifted longitudinally along the sleeve to permit the removal and application of the block, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

FRANK M. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMoN, PERRY B. TURPIN. 

